Location: Concord, CA. November 25, 2014 4:49 pm Dear Bugman, I have only seen this bug a few times on Contra Costa County of California. Any idea what it is? Signature: Don

Snakefly

Dear Don, This is one of the best images we have seen of a Snakefly in the order Raphidioptera. Snakeflies are harmless predators.

Thanks Daniel It was a bug I had never seen before and the first time I saw it was on a hospital floor. I wondered if it was some kind of rare exotic poisonous bug that had landed somebody in that hospital. Its good to know its a fairly normal bug. 🙂 Thanks very much for the identification! Kind Regards, Don

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Subject: Unable to Identify Insect… Location: Sacramento California June 24, 2014 10:27 pm Dear Sir, This insect I found in my home in Sacramento California sometime in early may 2014 I have been trying to identify it if there’s anyway u would be able to me with that id appreciate much… Thank you..:. Signature: Jj

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Subject: Little Visitor Location: Sacramento, CA November 9, 2013 6:36 pm Hello, We found this little one in our house the other day. My toddler ”inspected” it and then let it go in the backyard. Any help in identifying it would be most appreciated. I’ve been looking at native species but can’t seem to identify it. It was found in early November in the Northern Sacramento area in California. The one in the photo is about 3/4” long. Sorry the photo isn’t the best. Signature: John

Snakefly Larva

Hi John, This is a harmless, predatory Snakefly larva in the order Raphidioptera. Adult Snakeflies are rather curious looking insects with long necks that look somewhat prehistoric.

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Subject: What is this bug Location: California coast. Santa Cruz October 30, 2013 12:20 am Hi. I recently discovered this little guy inside my home. I have very young children need to know if these are problematic. Signature: Nessa

Snakefly Larva

Hi Nessa, This is a Snakefly Larva and it is harmless. According to BugGuide: “Both larvae and adults are predatory, though they are capable of catching and killing only small and weak prey. Snakefly larvae feed on eggs and larvae of various insects, as well as adults of minute arthropods (e.g. mites, springtails, barklice, and homopterans). Adults typically prefer aphids but may eat a wide variety of arthropods.”

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Subject: Couple’s dispute over critter Location: West Linn, Oregon October 6, 2013 9:21 am Greetings, Mr. Bugman, The Boyfriend and I have encountered a few of these fellas trekking across our wooden floor on their way in or out of dark, dry places (underneath mats and such). Every time, the critter has been traveling solo. They are just under an inch long and have dark heads and thoraxes and looooong, pale abdomens. The Boyfriend wants them to be some form of drywood termite, because he admires eusocial critters and is apparently unconcerned about the fate of our 30s-era wooden house. My spidey-sense, however, tells me that it’s a more harmless something else, just coming in to warm up from the recent cold snap. Thanks for your help in settling our heated debate! Signature: Becca

Snakefly Larva

Hi Becca, We are going to side with you on this. It is a Snakefly Larva, which makes it “a more harmless something else” and not a termite.

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Subject: Termite or Ant Location: Cupertino, CA March 26, 2013 11:43 pm I find this hard to classify based on guidelines I’ve seen. It has only two bulbous body sections, which would seem to make it a termite, but it has a very slim long body section between the two larger sections. The antenni are curled toward the end, but not sharply bent. It does not look much like any of the images I have seen online of winged ants or termites. Signature: –scott

Snakefly

Hi Scott, This is neither a termite nor an ant. It is a Snakefly in the order Raphidioptera and you can read more about them on BugGuide. Snakeflies look much nicer alive than dead. We are postdating your submission to go live next week during our absence from the office.